Robert Plant awarded CBE in UK Honours list

John Martyn and Courtney Pine also recognised

Michael Leonard, Wed 31 Dec 2008, 1:05 pm UTC

Robert Plant CBE continues to work with Alison Krauss

Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant has been appointed a CBE (Commander of the British Empire) in the UK's 2009 New Year's Honours List. The award is for his services to music.

Plant's partner in Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page, was awarded an OBE in 2005, though not for his music. The Queen bestowed the OBE on Page to recognise his work with poor children in Brazil, via his ABC Trust (Action for Brazil's Children). Page founded the ABC Trust with his Brazilian wife, Jimena.

Plant has recently shunned Page's attempts to reform Led Zeppelin for more live work, and is working on a new album with American bluegrass singer Alison Krauss.

"We're in the middle of the honeymoon right now," Plant recently said. "We're coming up with all sorts of great songs. The fluidity and the flexibility that's coming about now, it would be a shame not to do something original.

"That's the way forward. I do things because I want to be excited and I want to be risky."

Also honoured this year are Scottish singer-songwriter and maverick guitarist John Martyn (awarded an OBE) and jazz saxophonist Courtney Pine (CBE).